Photographing Lake Tahoe
With so many gorgeous places across the U.S. to visit, most of us love capturing the moment with our cell phones. Cell phone camera technology has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years. For most peoples’ needs, the images they produce are “better” those from high-end cameras. A pocket-size camera with several lenses and auto HDR is an amazing thing. There is one big drawback however…you cannot make premium quality large scale prints of you winning shots. As a professional photographer, that is a deal breaker for me. While I was in Tahoe CA, finding the best photo ops was not a problem, but I had to be ready with all my photo gear. Read my Shooting & Shredding Palisades Tahoe article if you happen to be a skier or a snowboarder, and you are interested in photographing while on the mountain.
Tahoe Best Photo Ops
I did not allocate much time to researching Lake Tahoe’s best photography locations before we left town. My wife and I were squeezing a lot of activity into this trip. We had restaurant reviews set up nearly every night. So, I figured I would just go with the flow and see how things unfolded.
The places I planned to photograph in the Lake Tahoe area were primarily Emerald Bay and Sand Harbor. I was prepared to hike for some elevated views. However, I also wanted to use my AquaTech water housing with a dome port to shoot over-under images from in the water. I brought my wetsuit, fins, mask and a snorkel, so I would be prepared.
The manager of Olympic Village Inn, where we were staying, turned out to be extremely helpful. Spencer knows Lake Tahoe like the back of his hand. He gave me a bunch of tips regarding where to go and when to get there. This saved me time and got me to some great spots at the right moments. All I had to do was wake up ridiculously early and drive.
Spencer told me about numerous options. Since Kathy had already arranged a busy schedule for us, I made a plan that fit my personal schedule. As much as I wanted to go for some long hikes, I did not want to miss the incredible dinners she arranged. I also wanted to snowboard as much as possible. It was a lot to fit in, but I found a way to do it all.
Emerald Bay, Tahoe CA
There was one place I knew I would get some great shots with limited allocation of time. Emerald Bay State Park is only about 40 minutes from Olympic Village Inn. There is a large parking lot, and you don’t really need to hike at all. There are numerous vista here as well as more just up the road. From this one location you can catch great sunrises over Emerald Bay and a very nice view of Lower Eagle Falls. Plus you can walk down to the water and see Vikingsholm. Or, you can cross the highway, walk a short distance and head up to Eagle Lake. If you have limited time, Emerald Bay State Park is one of the best places to go. Unfortunately, if you are in Tahoe during a busy time, you really need to get there super early. Otherwise, you will have nowhere to park.
Eagle Falls Tahoe CA
Watching the sun rise over Emerald bay, with dramatic trees, rocks and Fennette Island in the scene, is hypnotic. It happens quickly, so snap away or just watch and enjoy. Then, make your move over to Lower Eagle Falls and marvel at the luminous rushing water as the sun moves into position. From there, cross the road and start your hike to Eagle Lake. This particular part of Lake Tahoe is amazing. It’s only about 15 minutes from South Lake Tahoe. Just keep in mind that the easy access means it usually gets very crowded. We travel during the “shoulder seasons” whenever possible. So, I was one of only two people there for this particular sunrise.
Sand Harbor
I had a very ambitious plan this day. I chose not to hike to Eagle Lake, because I wanted to shoot near Sand Harbor which is all the way on the opposite side of Lake Tahoe. Spencer informed me that a great time to photograph that area is a bit later in the morning. The sun needs to crest over the mountains for the water color to start popping and for the water clarity to be revealed. So, I was able to shoot Emerald Bay at sunrise and also shoot Sand Harbor at a great time. The weather just happened to cooperate. Lake Tahoe has a lot of sunny days, but clouds can form suddenly out of nowhere. The locals say “if you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.” Don’t get discouraged, if it’s cloudy. That might just change right before your eyes and just in time.
Coastal Photography
You have probably seen some incredible photographs from the coast or beaches near Sand Harbor. If not, just walk into any gallery around Lake Tahoe, and you will see them for sure. The sunsets, and certain lighting conditions along this coast, can be breathtaking. Bonsai Rock in particular holds tremendous potential. If I had just a bit more time, I would have made it a point to go there. In the interest of time management, I chose to prioritize getting in the water with my camera. Then I rented a bike a Flume Trail Bikes and cruised along the Tahoe East Shore Trail. From there I headed back to Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort. Then we were off to Truckee to review another incredible restaurant.
If you love taking photos for fun or as a profession, Lake Tahoe has the most amazing views. Put it on your travel list, you won’t regret it. For more info about the hikes CLICK HERE, or HERE to read my Shooting and Shredding article. CLICK HERE to find out more about the Lake Tahoe area including a review of Olympic Valley Inn. ETG recommends visiting the official Lake Tahoe website at https://visitlaketahoe.com
